K. Hariharan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mumbai,Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, Writer, Professor |
| Years active | 44 |
| Spouse | Dr Rama Hariharan |
| Awards | National Award for Best Tamil Film 1983, Afro Asian Solidarity Award, Moscow |
K. Hariharan is an Indian film director who has directed films inTamil,Marathi andHindi. Until 2021 he was the professor of Film Studies atKrea University. Born inMumbai,Maharashtra, his father H.Krishnan was the Chairman ofEastman Kodak. An alumnus of theFilm and Television Institute of India (FTII), Hariharan formed "Yukt Film Co-operative" in 1976 together with his batch mates to make an experimental film calledGhashiram Kotwal (film).Ezhavathu Manithan, his directorial debut inTamil cinema, won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and was nominated for Golden St. George (Best Film) at theMoscow International Film Festival.
Born inMumbai,Maharashtra, Hariharan completed a basic degree in commerce fromPoddar College, Mumbai and later joined theFilm and Television Institute of India (FTII),Pune to do a course in screen-writing and direction.[1][2] His father, H Krishnan a qualified cinematographer also served theEastman Kodak as its vice-president.[2] After passing out of the FTII, Hariharan formed "Yukt Films Co-operative" together with his batch mates that includedSaeed Akhtar Mirza,Kamal Swaroop and their senior FTII alumniMani Kaul.[3] The co-operative made an experimental film in Marathi namedGhashiram Kotwal.[4][5] Describing the film as "an esoteric piece of art", it was entered into theBerlin International Film Festival in 1978.[6] The film was screened again at thefestival inn 2014 after being digitally restored. As a young film-maker Hariharan started making films forChildren's Film Society (India).[2] After that he started making children's films on the insistence ofV. Shantaram, thus makingWanted Thangaraj (1979) which also was his directional debut in Tamil.[6] After the release of the film, he relocated toChennai and started working on Tamil films. HisEzhavathu Manithan, which markedRaghuvaran's debut, won theNational Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil and the Afro-Asian solidarity award.[2][5] The film was also nominated for Golden St. George (Best Film) Award at the35th Moscow International Film Festival.[7] In 1991, he made his Bollywood debut throughCurrent that starredOm Puri andDeepti Naval in the lead. Made on ashoestring budget, the film focused on the plight of farmers in India.
He has served on several film festival juries such asWarsaw Film Festival,Tallinn International Film Festival,Cinemalaya Film Festival,Jeonju Film Festival,IFFK Trivandrum,Indian National Film Awards.
In August 2024, Hariharan released his first book titled 'Kamal Haasan- A Cinematic Journey' published by Harper Collins India. The book, a deep contextual analysis of the superstar's films, featured at several book festivals such as the ones held in Chennai, Hyderabad and Ooty. After registering good sales, a paperback version has now been released.
Hariharan is married to Dr. Rama Hariharan and resides in Chennai. He was the director of L.V. Prasad Film and TV Academy, Chennai. Last service as the Professor of Creative Arts and Director Media Lab atKrea University.[2] He is also a visiting faculty at FTII,[8] and the universities ofPennsylvania andMiami.[4] He is a former director ofL. V. Prasad Film and TV Academy,Chennai and the dean atMahindra Ecole Centrale,Hyderabad. After teaching at Ashoka University, Sonepat, Haryana, he was the Director, Media Lab at KREA University until Feb 2021. As the trustee ofDharithree in Bengaluru andGarden of Peace School in Kaniyambadi, Vellore is presently in updating the curriculum and pedagogy of these two rural schools using advanced Digital technologies like AI, Alexa, AR/VR.